In My Enemy's House

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"They won't kill everyone in the ghetto right away," he continued, his voice matter-of-fact. "They still need workers. But not for too long. After all, they have us Poles to work for them, don't they?"

He paused then, and looked at me. I was frozen like a Polish winter. I was cold right through into my bones.

"You know, Miriam," Mr. Kraszewski suggested, "you could be one of us."

Award-winning novelist Carol ...

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Overview

"They won't kill everyone in the ghetto right away," he continued, his voice matter-of-fact. "They still need workers. But not for too long. After all, they have us Poles to work for them, don't they?"

He paused then, and looked at me. I was frozen like a Polish winter. I was cold right through into my bones.

"You know, Miriam," Mr. Kraszewski suggested, "you could be one of us."

Award-winning novelist Carol Matas brings readers into the heart of Nazi Germany with the harrowing story of Marisa, a Polish Jew whose blonde hair and blue eyes make it easy for her to pass as a Christian. With the Nazis ready to herd the remaining Jews of her town into a ghetto, and with her family either scattered or dead, Marisa takes the papers of a Polish girl and in that disguise goes to Germany in a desperate attempt to survive as a Polish worker.

After traveling to Weimar, Marisa finds work as a servant for the Reymanns, a wealthy farming family who treat her with dignity and respect. Their daughter Charlotte becomes fond of Marisa and wants to be her friend. Marisa's life with the Reymanns may seem safe, the Reymanns appear fair, but she can never forget that Herr Reymann is a high-ranking Nazi official and Charlotte attends the League of German Maidens. Marisa is hiding in plain sight in her enemy's house.

Carol Matas's unflinching account of Marisa's dilemma as a Jew living a lie in order ot survive will give readers a new perspective on the nature of good and evil even as it touches their hearts.

When German soldiers arrive in Zloczow during World War II, a young Jewish girl must decide whether or not to conceal her identity and work for a Nazi in Germany in order to survive.

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Editorial Reviews

KLIATT
To quote KLIATT's July 2000 review of the hardcover edition: In a way similar to Greater Than Angels, this Holocaust story tells not just of physical survival, but of spiritual survival as well. Marisa is a Polish Jew who passes herself off as a Polish Gentile to work in Germany during the war. Polish workers were treated like slave labor, working on farms and as house servants in Germany—and Matas bases this fictional story on interviews with two Jewish Holocaust survivors whose experiences were similar to Marisa's. Marisa is blond and blue-eyed, which gives her a chance to take the papers of a Polish girl and escape to Germany, of all places, in order to survive. The first part of the book tells graphically what happened to Polish Jews as the Germans took over Marisa's town. Her parents are rounded up and sent to certain death; her younger brother and sister are dark, and they know they can't escape as Marisa can—so they resolve to go into the forest (the sister disguised as a boy) to join partisans. Marisa's boyfriend dyes his hair blond and hopes to do as Marisa does, but until the end, we don't learn of his fate. Of course, Jewish boys had also to hide the fact that they were circumcised. Marisa's experiences, first with a violent German farmer who treats her badly, and later with a polite, caring Nazi family, are quite interesting in and of themselves. Marisa's fury at what the Germans have done to her family and to all Jews as she lives "in her enemy's house" and how she resolves that hatred is a theme that becomes more important than even her physical survival. Marisa is a devout Jew, yearning to become a scholar like her father; her faith is devastated by theevident evil around her. Her boyfriend is less observant, yet has much to teach her about spiritual and emotional truths, such as the corrosive nature of hatred. Intelligent, questioning adolescents as protagonists in harrowing circumstances make this an outstanding book. KLIATT Codes: JS*—Exceptional book, recommended for junior and senior high school students. 1999, Simon & Schuster/Aladdin, 168p, 18cm, $4.99. Ages 13 to 18. Reviewer: Claire Rosser; November 2000 (Vol. 34 No. 6)
Children's Literature - Children's Literature
When 15-year-old Marisa's family is killed by Nazis invading her Polish town, she relies on her blond hair and blue eyes to pretend to be a Gentile. Signing on as a Polish worker, she ships into Germany to work for the family of a high-ranking Nazi official. Masquerading as a Pole, she meets kindness and gentility, but also ignorant prejudice from the same family. Threaded through the book is Marisa's romantic attachment to her cousin by marriage, Shmuel, who she despairs of seeing again when they become separated. Her escape while translating for Polish arms workers in the heart of Berlin occurs during fierce Allied bombing, where she reunites with Shmuel. The League of German Maidens organization, the female version of the Hitler Youth is compellingly examined as are the brainwashed attitudes ordinary Nazis held toward Poles and Russians, as well as the Jews. Marisa's deep faith--her relationship with God--guides her to reject hatred of the Nazi family and to love every person. Matas gives the reader enthralling action, and interesting relationships, while firmly touching on issues of moral behavior. 1999, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division/Simon Books for Young Readers, Ages 12 up, $16.00. Reviewer: Martha Shaw—Children's Literature
VOYA - Janet Mura
Fifteen-year-old Marissa from Zloczow, Poland, witnesses the brutal murders of her neighbors on page three of this novel about the World War II German occupation. From there, Matas takes readers through fear, loss of faith, disguise, and guilt-a journey not masked in figurative language or suggestion. Early in the story, her immediate family still intact but with awareness of the Nazi plan, Marissa contemplates suicide-an option she revisits frequently.

Eventually, this blonde, blue-eyed Jew hides her identity in order to survive, working as a slave in the home of a high-ranking Nazi official. There she observes children playing "Jew Out," a game based on symbolic extermination; she sees local teens role-playing hate; she listens as young girls vow to dedicate their bodies to produce many Aryan children. Marissa is constantly torn between fading memories of the importance of love, emphasized by her faith and the insurmountable hate she feels in an environment where children admit: "If there is a God, He's turned his back on us. I'd prefer to think there wasn't one. Otherwise He's far too cruel."

While the setting is distanced from furnaces and gas chambers, horrors are nonetheless present in the hanging of a Polish girl who has sex with a German boy, numerous shootings, and in the graphic skinning of a man who hides Jews in his home. Marissa recognizes the utter randomness of life and death; she grows increasingly aware of stereotyping and mind manipulation-in herself and others. Chilling and compelling, this darkly existential novel travels down yet another path on the map of multi-faceted Holocaust literature, grappling with the paradox of separating individual from ideology. As in Bruno Bettleheim's much anthologized essay, A Victim, readers are left painfully aware that we are all victims.

VOYA Codes: 3Q 3P M J (Readable without serious defects, Will appeal with pushing, Middle School-defined as grades 6 to 8 and Junior High-defined as grades 7 to 9). 9

Children's Literature - Mary Sue Preissner
Marisa's blonde hair and blue eyes, along with purchased papers, help her to survive the Holocaust. Posing as a Polish girl, she is sent to Germany to work as a servant in the home of a high-ranking Nazi. Told in the first person, Marisa witnesses lives being ripped apart, her family and friends either executed or missing. Her faith and her ability to keep her secrets, while constantly examining events around her, enable this young girl to "think" her way through perilous situations. This gripping tale of survival pulls a young woman from the depths of despair and depression to the possibility of hope and survival.
School Library Journal
Gr 7-10-A gripping novel about the Holocaust, this is the story of Marisa, a teen whose life changes dramatically when her small Polish village is invaded by the Nazis and most of her family is taken away. Because Marisa is blond and blue eyed, she is able to hide her Jewish identity. After several grueling experiences and with the help of some fake documentation and language lessons, she is sent to Germany and becomes a servant to Herr Reymann, a high-ranking Nazi official. Marisa finds comfort and affection in the family but is constantly aware of their virulent anti-Semitism, ignorance, and prejudice. Marisa knows she must keep her true identity secret at all costs and struggles to retain a sense of identity, her faith, and even her will to live. The novel allows readers to view the war from multiple perspectives and adds many valuable layers of insight. Although this is fiction, it has the immediacy and impact of a true story. Marisa's ordeal is compelling, moving-and deeply disturbing. Readers will end up pondering the same complexities of human nature and history that the protagonist does.-Cyrisse Jaffee, formerly at Newton Public Schools, MA
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780689824005
  • Publisher: Simon Pulse
  • Publication date: 8/1/1900
  • Format: Mass Market Paperback
  • Edition description: 1 ALADDIN
  • Pages: 176
  • Age range: 12 - 17 Years
  • Product dimensions: 4.22 (w) x 7.16 (h) x 0.45 (d)

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 10 )
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Sort by: Showing all of 10 Customer Reviews
  • Anonymous

    Posted November 5, 2007

    Carol Matas your the best!

    I thought the book In My Enenmys House was a really great book. I got it from the library and I just had to get it. I was sick all weekend so I read it in a few days. I read alot so I'm used to reading fast. The scariest part in the book was when Marisa was screaming out in Hebrew when she was dreaming and the Nazi family could have cought her.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 8, 2004

    Wow!

    I am now a junior in high school, but read this book for a book report in freshman history. My teacher, Mrs. K., picked me as the only one to read it, because she thought I would enjoy it most out of her 120 students. It is one of the best books I have EVER read on the Holocaust. This book gives the reader a great visual, and really depicts what life was like during WWII for the Jews. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a great suspense novel!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 5, 2004

    O MY GOD!!I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!

    i love it so much!!i hope that carol matas will make a sequal..ive read it like three times already!!i just love the book

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 9, 2004

    Good Literature, Disturbing Topic

    Although I thought that the author wrote this book very well, I think that she could have gone in a bit more depth towards that beginning of the book. For the first, say, four or five chapters, I was not exactly fond of the book, but as the story progressed, I began to really get into the story. The topic of this book was a bit disturbing, but as the author pointed out, rather subtely, you need to remember, so something as horrible as the Holocaust, so that it does not occur ever again. One other suggestion for the author is to make clear what an 'action' was. Overall, this novel was well written, and I really liked the way Marissa's feelings were strongly expressed throughout the story. Excellant work! :-)

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 8, 2004

    WOWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I thought this book was really interesting and fun to read. I loved it so much I'm reading it again.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 1, 2003

    WHAT HAPPENS NEXT????

    I loved this book, In My Enemy's House. I want to know what happened to Marisa & Shmuel later on in life & if Yehuda & Fanny survived. Did Shmuel & Marisa get married? Please, Carol MAtas write a sequal to Marisa's life!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 19, 2003

    The Best

    In My Enemy's House is one of the best books I have ever read. I would recomend this book to anyone who likes reading about the holocaust. This book shows the life of a girl trying to life in a world she does not understand. It gives a sence of faith to God and having hope when everything around her is being destoyed. She deales with losing her family and the one she loves. This is the best book ever!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 22, 2001

    One of the best books in it's time!

    Carol Matas writes an insightful journal of a character, and her struggle to fight for her life along with loved ones around her during the time of the holocaust.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 29, 2001

    Waho0o0o0o0o0o0o

    Marissa is a blond hair blue eyed girl who could easily pass of for a polish girl, which during the times of the Holocost, was a good idea. Her, her family, and her friends all get split up in this horrible time and she is sent off to Germany where she is to stay and work for one of the head Nazi's. She goes through many tough times living with them in their house and hearing about the horrible things they are doing to all of the Jews. Marisa becomes good friends with Charolotte, the man she is living with daughter, and they share secrets about everything, including how Charlotte is seeing a boy who is in a group who is against Hitler. Marisa helps her get through her tough times when her father finds this out. Eventually Marisa is sent off to a factory to work and thinks that she will never see Charolotte again, but they do. I think this was a terrific story and it also teaches you about how times were for the Jews.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 24, 2001

    Excelent!

    It was amazing and inspiring.Extremly exciting. it is about a girl that is a jew. Her Parents and most of her family are taken away so she and a brother, sister, and boyfrind you can say enter an inspiring adveture. Later finding herself in her worst enemies house.

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